Virginia Families Still Caught in the Fray as Rep. Jen Kiggans Votes on Continuing Resolution
Virginia Beach, VA – Today, the House of Representatives returned to Washington and voted on a continuing resolution to reopen the government. This comes after over six weeks of what is now the longest shutdown in United States history, affecting everyone from government employees, military families, and veterans to SNAP recipients. Rep. Kiggans was among those who supported the bill despite claiming to support a stopgap option of extending the tax credits by one year.
The Republican bill does not address the expiring health care tax credits. Nearly 400,000 Virginians and 30,000 of Rep. Jen Kiggans’ constituents are set to face insurance premium increases. Rep. Kiggans has indicated an unwillingness to permanently extend the tax credits, stating “we don’t need these.”
“I’m a small business owner, so I am responsible for my own health care, and without the tax credits, I would not be able to afford it,” said Carolyn Atherholt, Virginia Beach resident. “After breaking my foot a few years ago, I required ongoing physical therapy that I would not have been able to afford on my own. Because of the ACA tax credits, I’m not in medical debt and can continue to see a doctor when my foot flares up, as well as for preventive care. That the need for these tax credits is in question is offensive to all of us who rely on them. We don’t need affordable health care for another year; we need affordable health care forever. I’m disappointed that our call to Rep. Kiggans to make these tax credits permanent continues to fall on deaf ears, and today she has let us down once again.”
“We’ve heard from people across Hampton Roads, and all of them are saying the same things – we need these,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “Rep. Kiggans may have proposed to extend tax credits by just one year, but that would have left everyone to navigate this anxiety again next year. Rep. Kiggans just keeps kicking the can down the road. Every Virginian deserves the stability that can only come with knowing they will have continued access to affordable health care, and Rep. Kiggans should know that as a nurse. Premiums are already going up. Without these tax credits, families will go without insurance altogether. That is unacceptable. Working families deserve a permanent solution that will ensure their families stay healthy going forward. Today’s vote was just another strike against working families after Rep. Kiggans voted to slash Medicaid and SNAP earlier this year.”